Priorities for Different-Sized Groups

Thanks to the organizers of EA Oxford and EA MIT for contributing to this page.

Groups will always be time and funding-constrained, so prioritising between activities is critical. A group’s prioritisation strategy depends on several factors: the group’s stage of development; its members’ demographic, needs and preferences; and its organisers’ skill sets.

To begin prioritising, determine your group’s stage of development. We identify three stages below, organised by group size. All priorities from earlier stages apply to later stages.

We recommend that group organisers tailor our general approach to fit your specific circumstances. It is useful to create a document which lists group priorities. You should revisit the list at fixed intervals, such as every six months, or at the end of every semester. These documents can help you to stay on-track, evaluate progress, and adjust your goals.

Content

Small/New

Small groups generally have 1-2 group organisers and <10 regular group members. 

Recommended priorities:

Medium-sized

Medium groups generally have 3-5 group organisers and 10-20 regular group members. Without fail-safes and proper infrastructure, many medium-sized groups may contract.

Recommended priorities:

Large

Large groups have >5 organisers who invest substantial time into the group, possibly including paid part- or full-time organisers. They're generally at least a few years old with an active membership of 50+ members, large enough to support sub-communities with different interest areas or demographics. Dissolution of large groups is improbable.

Recommended priorities: